<!--Rick Pfeiffer--><table width="234" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" background="http://static.cnhi.zope.net/flashpromo/niagaragazette/images/byline_234x60.jpg" height="60"><tr><td><div align="center"><font size="3" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">By Rick Pfeiffer</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /></font><font size="1" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><a href="mailto:rick.pfeiffer@niagara-gazette.com">rick.pfeiffer@niagara-gazette.com</a></font></div></td></tr></table>
Niagara Gazette
October 30, 2009 01:36 am
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A political newcomer, a one term member and a two-time village trustee will find out Tuesday who will fill two available seats on the Lewiston Town Council.
Michael Marra, David Sanchez and Alfonso Bax are all seeking the post, with Bax looking for a second term on the council. An attorney, Bax has been endorsed by all five major political parties.
“Absolutely, I see (the unanimous party endorsements) as a sign of support,” Bax said. “But ultimately it doesn’t matter what party you are, what’s good for the town is good for the town.”
Bax, who has lived in the town for most of his life and has his law office on Center Street says his ties to the community prompted him to enter politics and run for council.
“I know it’s a cliché but, I’ve always wanted to give back (to the community),” Bax said. “There was an opportunity (four years ago) to run. I gave it some painstaking thought and I decided to take a run. I thought if I could make a difference for my kids, I would.”
For Marra, a two-term village trustee, the run for council is a logical move up. Though he admits he was initially a reluctant candidate for the village board.
“My neighbor was on the village board and was going to leave. He knew I was always interested in politics and suggested I should run to replace him,” Marra said. “I was a little hesitant, I don’t consider myself a great orator, but I went to (village board) meetings and I felt I could do the job.”
Like Bax, Marra believes that serving as a trustee has allowed him to “serve the community.”
“I’ve tried to dedicate my time to children’s recreational programs, improving types of activities and the courts and parks,” Marra said.
For Sanchez, the political newcomer in his first ever run for elective office, the race is about preserving the Lewiston lifestyle.
“It’s a quality of life issue (running for council),” Sanchez said. “To me (Lewiston) is the epitome of what suburban village living is. There is a quality of life here that you can’t duplicate.”
Born and raised in Williamsville, Sanchez says his wife, a life-long Lewiston resident, brought him north and now he can’t imagine living anywhere else.
“It’s a vibrant community in an otherwise depressed region,” Sanchez said. “It’s safe, it’s clean and I think I have the energy to keep the town continuing on that path.”
The platforms of all three candidates bear striking similarities. All of them champion low taxes and a tourism-friendly approach to economic development.
Marra says he stands on his record on taxes as a village trustee.
“We are the lowest taxed village in Erie and Niagara counties,” Marra said. “So the first (important issue) is fiscal responsibility. I’m proud of my work (on taxes) and I think I can bring that same type of commitment to the town.”
Bax sees consolidation of services between the town and village as a key cost-cutting measure which could also hold down taxes.
“There are a number of issues that are important to the town, one of them being the consolidation of services,” Bax said. “The town and village work well together, but we can do more.”
Sanchez also service consolidation as a desirable destination for both town and village residents.
“I think consolidation is a terrific idea, generally,” Sanchez said. “It would need to be phased in. I think the general consensus I hear when I walk the town is that it could work.”
As part of his desire to preserve Lewiston’s quaint village quality of life, Sanchez says he believes the town needs to engage in what he described as “smart growth.”
“We want to avoid the sprawl we’ve seen elsewhere,” Sanchez said. “It’s not sustainable from an infrastructure standpoint.”
Bax sees unlimited growth potential for the town in the area of tourism.
“I think Lewiston is poised at a very unique place,” he said. “We have the ability to transform it into an Ellicottville or a Niagara-on-the-Lake. With the Seneca casino, the golf course, the wine trail, the gorge view, this could be a marquee location.”
Marra said he’d like to improve how the town spends its greenway funds and sees that as an effort at improved economic development. He hopes the voters are ready to move him up from the village board to the town council.
“I think I’ve been pretty well received,” Marra said. “I’d like people to look at what we’ve done in the village and see my commitment.”
Sanchez said he’s enjoyed his first-ever campaign. He believes he’s got a chance to win a council seat.
“It’s been a terrific experience,” he said. “I found it interesting to hear people’s concerns. Overall, I’m very glad I made the decision to run.”
Alfonso Bax
AGE: 38
FAMILY: Married for 7 years with four children, 3 boys and 1 girl.
EDUCATION: Graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Marketing from Niagara University and received his Masters Degree in Business Administration and Juris Doctorate from the University at Buffalo.
EMPLOYMENT: He is an attorney in private practice in Lewiston.
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: While he is a registered Republican, he has been endorsed by the Democratic, Republican, Independent, Conservative and Working Families parties.
EXPERIENCE: This would be his second term on the Town Council.
David Sanchez
AGE: 36
FAMILY: Married with a daughter.
EDUCATION: Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from St. Lawrence University and received his Juris Doctorate from Nova Southeastern University Law School.
EMPLOYMENT: He is an attorney in private practice in Buffalo.
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Has the Democratic, Working Families and Lewiston’s Choice party endorsements.
EXPERIENCE: This is his first run for elective office.
Michael Marra
AGE: 41
FAMILY: Married with a dog.
EDUCATION: Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, both from the University at Buffalo
EMPLOYMENT: Has been employed as the Job Placement Coordinator at Niagara Cerebral Palsy for 17 years.
POLITICAL AFFILIATION: He is the endorsed candidate of the Republican, Independent and Conservative parties.
EXPERIENCE: He is a two-term Trustee on the Lewiston Village Board. This is his first run for town office.
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